Fruit-stemming apparatus



C). J.- STEINWAND FRUIT sTEMMNG APPARATUS Filed Jan. 51, v1928 l ,IILE Yw w .NSN .Q A

Patented Feb. 5, i929.

" STATES o'rfro a. 1 sfrninvrnnn, or sau Francisco, c'anroniira,assrenoa fro sussiueiu,

tvoaiasnn @L COMPANY, or san anamorfico, Garance-nia, a ooitrona'rron oronnironnie.

FRUT-STEMMING APARATUS.

Application filed January 31, 132.8. Serial No. 550,746.

My present invention relates to an improved apparatus for stemminggrapes and the like and more particularly to an improvement in grapestemmers oit' the rotating` drum type.

An object of my invention to provide a grape stemming' device ot therotating drum type wherein the discharge ot grapes and the liketherefrom will be retarded so as to insure that the grapes will becompletely stemmed and not discharged therel'rom with the cap stemsattached.

ln stemming; grapes it is a simple matter to tumble the bu-nc1 es otgrapes and thus shake them so as to i'ree the grapes from the bunch andvarious apparatus have been proposed in the prior art for accomplishingthis purpose. Many ot these prior art devices comprise cylinders ordrums formed et scree material completely therearound through theopenings of Which the treed grapes are dis charged as the drum isrotated. iVhen the grapes are freed from the bunch or stalk in a drum ofthis type, tney will be immediately discharged therefrom and it veryetten happens that a short portion of the stem Which con'imonly isreferred to as the cap stem7 will adhere to the grape and be dischargedtherewith so as to necessitate a furtherr op-v eration of removing;these cap stems after the grapes have passed through the tumbling' drum.The expression cap stems appear ing` above refers to that short portionof the stein which extends from the grape to the main stem or stalk otthe bunch ot grapes.

In accordance Withmy invention, I propose to separate the grapes 'fromthe main stem or stalk and at the same time reduce the possibility otthese cap stems adheringv to the `rapes by reducing; the size andchanging' the nature ot the discharge` outlet of the drum so that thegrapes will be tumbled in such a manner that the possibilities ot thesecap stems adhering' thereto will be greatly reduced and therefore agreater proportion ot the grapes discharged therefrom will not only befreed of the main stem, but will also be free of attached cap stems.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference should be had tothe accompanying drawing, in Which I have shown by Way of illustrationone embodiment of my invention.

In the drawing- Figg. 1 is a side elevation in section ot apparatusembodying my invention,

Fils. 2 is an end elevation in section along line ll-ll of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3'is a plan vieu7 ot the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with the cornersbroken away to shou' the manner ot supporting the drum., and

l? l is a fragmentary view in perspective ot the drum shown in F 1.

1n F 1, 10 designates a cylinder having,` external Hang-es 11 andinternal flanges 12 which form a unitary drum structure. Arranged withinthe cylinder 10' and extending axially thereof, l have provided aplurality of cleats 18. An opening is provided along' a portion ci" thecylinder 10 to form a discharge outlet therefrom. Arranged across thisopening` and extending' circuniterentially oi the cylinder 10, l provideplurality ot rods 141 so spaced as to form a gratingv or grilleuorkthrough which the loosened irrapes can pass as the drum is rotated. rihedrum termed by the cylinder 10 is suspended With in a frame 15 by meansof suitable chains 16` which pass under the ends thereof and oversuitable sprockets 17 carried upon a shait 18. The shaft 18 is journaledupon the trame 15 and carries a pulley 19 which is adapted to be drivenfrom any suitable source ot power to thereby cause the drum to rotate.At one end of the drum provide a suitable hopper 2O by means of whichthe bunches ct grapes can be fed to the interior ot the drum andarranged beneath the rotating` drum I also provide a hopper 21 which isadapted to catch the loosened grapes and convey them to any suitablereceptacle.

Ain order to prevent longitudinal and sidewise movement ot the drumwithin the iframe 15, I provide rollers 22 which are supported uponbrackets 23 and engage the flanges 11, as shown in Figs'. 2 and 3 of thedrawing.

By referring to Fig. a, it Will be seen that the cleats 13 extend atright angles to the rods la and that by reason ot this arrangeientotthese elements the bunches of grapes will become arranged with theirmain stems or stalks extending lengthwise the cylinder and, as a result,at right angles to the rods 14. This will prevent the ends of the stalksbeing` projected through the grille-Work and CJD Cil

thus becoining caught or discharged therethrough so as to interfere withthe successful operation ol iny device, lt Will also be seen that thedischarge opening as here shown constitutes sinall roportion ot thetotal cylinder surface and a result, the loosened grapes will be tumbledto seine extent before they will be discharged from the druin, and, aresult, should a cai stein adhere thereto, the possibilities et thegrape being lire-ed iiroin it will be increased by this additionaltumbling of the grape.

ln the draii'ing l l shown the rods lei as being strai 'ht and ndingbet-Ween only two et' the cle-attl 13, but it should be understood thatthese rods la can be curves so as to contorni With the surtace or" thecylinder and that several such openings inay be einployed, it round tobe necessary; and While l have shown trie pi-\'l"erred torni oit i'nyin- Ycntion non' known to rie, it is to be understood that Yariouschanges inay be inade in its construct-ion Without departing Atroni the.spirit oiz the invention as delined in the appended claiins.

Having thus d "'ribed n'iy invention, what l claiin and desi e to secureby Letters Patent isl. A grape steinining apparatus coinprising, acylinder adapted to be rotated about its anisa said cylinder having anopening at one end through which bunches ot grapes are introduced andspaced openings extending parallel to each other over a portion itscircumference and Yiorining a grating, and cleats extending axially ofsaid cylinder adapted to arrange the steins of the grapes at rightangles to openings whereby the freed grapes Will be discharged throughsaid openings and the steins held Within 'the cylinder until dischargedfrom the end thereof.

2. grape stemming apparatus comprising, a cylinder adapted to be rotatedabout lave ente its axis, said cylinder having an opening at one endthrough which bunches of grape are introduced and other openingsarranged parallel in spaced relation to each other and extendingcircuin'ferentially around a portion et said cylinder orniing a gratingi through which the grapes are discharged, and cleats extending axiallyo1 said cylinder adaptcd to arrange the steins et the grapes at rightangles to said openings to thereby prevent thein being dischargedthrough said grating.

3. A grape stemming apparatus comprising, a cylinder adapted to berotated about its airis said cylinder having an opening at one endthrough which bunches el grapes are fed, cleats arranged longitudinallyWithin said cylinder, whereby the bunches ot Qrapes Will be tumbled tothereby loosen the grapes 'frein their Steins, and a grating in the sideof said cylinder having its openings extending circuinterentially aboutthe cylinder through which the loosened grapes are discharged.

4f. A grape steniniing apparatus compris ingny a cylinder adapted to berotated about its axis, said cylinder having an opening at one endthrough which bunches of grapes are fed and an opening extending axiallyalong one side thereo't;A a plurality or' parallel rods extending acrosssaid second opening at right angles to the anis the cylinder and forminga grating through which the treed grapes are discharged, and a pluralityor cleats arranged in spaced relation and extending longitudily oi saidcylinder, whereby the bunches grapes will be tumbled to thereby loosenthe grapes troni their stenis as the cylinder rotates, said cleats andparallel rods being arranged at right angles te each other so that thebunches c g apes Will lie With their inain stems at right angles to saidrods and thereby prevent the discharge ot the inain grape stenis throughsaid grating.

o'rro J. srnnnmun

